Rhode Island’s former US attorney has a new job in private practice – The Boston Globe

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island’s former US attorney, who recently resigned at President Trump’s behest, has a new job.

Zachary Cunha joined the Providence office of prominent Boston-based law firm Nixon Peabody as a partner Monday, where he will focus on government investigations and white-collar defense.

Cunha, who was a federal prosecutor for 20 years, told the Globe he will be “representing individuals and companies who are either being investigated by government entities or facing complex litigation.”

He will work on both criminal and civil cases, he said. The cases may involve the Department of Justice, though he cannot take cases he personally worked on while he was US attorney.

“I think there are a lot of similarities in terms of trying to make sure that companies and individuals don’t find themselves at the crosshairs of government enforcement,” Cunha said of his transition from prosecutor to defense attorney.

Cunha confirmed the job at the law firm was in the works before he was directed to resign as US attorney for Rhode Island on Feb. 17. He was expecting to lose his job, as is customary when a new president takes office, and had already submitted a letter of resignation that would have taken effect days later.

“All of the remaining Biden-appointed US attorneys were informed by the White House that their service had come to a close,” Cunha said.

Cunha said he chose Nixon Peabody because a number of colleagues he worked with at the DOJ are now there, including Brian Kelly, a former Massachusetts federal prosecutor who tried the Whitey Bulger case.

As US attorney, Cunha sued CVS for allegedly contributing to the opioid crisis, accused R.I. leaders of warehousing children in state care at a psychiatric hospital, and prosecuted criminals who brought illegal guns into the community.

“You always wish you had time for more, but I’m proud not just of what the office has done, but where the office is and the fact that I’ve had the opportunity to bring on board some really terrific members of the staff,” Cunha said in a January interview with the Globe.

Trump has not yet named a replacement for Cunha. Sara Bloom, who was Cunha’s first assistant, is acting US attorney in the interim.

“Sara is a tremendously capable and talented career DOJ attorney,” Cunha said. “She’s eminently capable of running the office at the highest possible standard.”

Cunha declined to say if he’s considering running for R.I. attorney general next year, an idea that has been repeatedly floated by the current Attorney General Peter Neronha, a former US attorney himself, who is term-limited.

“My focus right now is on navigating this transition to private practice,” Cunha said. “As for the future, we’ll see what happens.”

Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.